Picture perfect

The work of two Welsh photographers features in an exhibition celebrating the best garden photography in the world.

The image of a Welsh poppy bud bursting into life by Alan Gregg from Swansea, and an intimate portrait of a mouse in the apple store by Alan Price from Caernarfon, are both winners in the International Garden Photographer of the Year competition.

Their work sits alongside images from Poland, China, Italy and America in an exhibition of some of the best pictures from the competition, which go on show today (Friday March 22) at the National Botanic Garden of Wales.

Each photograph in the show is accompanied by technical details of the process of producing the picture. It also features a commentary about how the image came about, which provides a rare insight into taking a prize-winning photograph.

Alan Price says: “I have an old apple tree in my garden which produces a small crop each year. The fallen apples are left for the wildlife. Birds, slugs, voles and mice all have a share.

“I wanted to capture my resident wood mouse surrounded by apples at ground level to show scale and a sense of intimacy. It was important to choose a sunny day, late afternoon, in order to capture low light hitting one side of the apples.

“I gathered up several apples, choosing a variety of colours and placed them in a tight group near where I had seen the mouse eat. Chopped apple was scattered to encourage feeding.

“I lay on my front with the lens resting on a beanbag about two metres from the apples.”

The exhibition is at the National Botanic Garden’s gallery and restaurant until September

* International Garden Photographer of the Year is the world’s premier competition and exhibition specialising in garden, plant, flower and botanical photography. It is run in association with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

* For more information about this exhibition and the photography workshops running alongside, email info@gardenofwales.org.uk or call 01558 667149.

Editor’s note: the images featured are: “Determination” by Alan Gregg, from Swansea, an image of the opening bud of a Welsh poppy (Meconopsis cambrica) taken in early morning light. A new day brings new life. Special Award winner in the “New Shoots” category.

And “Plenty for Everyone” by Alan Price, Nantlle, Caernarfon. Third place in the “Bountiful Earth” section.